Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board
Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ
UK
Contact person: Stacey Thrower
E-mail: stacey.thrower@nhs.net
NUTS: UKH25
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.bedfordshirelutonandmiltonkeynes.icb.nhs.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Sight Testing in Special Education Settings in the East of England
Reference number: AG25526
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85160000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) (referred to as the Commissioner) wish to inform the market of opportunities (multiple lots) to provide Sight Testing in Special Education Settings in the East of England for the following Lots:<br/><br/>Lot 1- Bedfordshire, Luton And Milton Keynes ICB<br/>Lot 2- Cambridgeshire And Peterborough ICB<br/>Lot 3 - Hertfordshire And West Essex ICB (Hertfordshire only)<br/><br/>The contract length is 1 year with the option to extend for a further year. The service commencement date is 01 April 2026.<br/><br/>It is anticipated that the service provision resulting from the Competitive Process will have an annual value of £635,528.36, divided as below for Lots:<br/><br/>Lot 1- Bedfordshire, Luton And Milton Keynes ICB - circa £209,000 per annum (excluding VAT)<br/>Lot 2- Cambridgeshire And Peterborough ICB - circa £204,000 per annum (excluding VAT)<br/>Lot 3 - Hertfordshire And West Essex ICB – circa £222,528.36 per annum (excluding VAT)(Hertfordshire only)<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for responses is 12:00pm (Mid-Day) on 16 January 2026.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 271 056.72
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
C. Lot 1 - NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH21
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1 - NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB<br/><br/>Lot 1 covers the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICBs geographical area. Please access to Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information. <br/><br/>Estimated annual value: circa £209,000 per annum (excluding VAT)<br/><br/>For details on the Special Education Settings and schools capacity, please access the Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information. <br/><br/>Contract Length: 1 year (+ 1 optional year extension)<br/><br/>The contract is expected to start on 01 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
418 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/04/2026
End:
31/03/2028
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
D. Lot 2 - NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH12
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2 - NHS Cambridgeshire And Peterborough ICB <br/><br/>Lot 2 covers the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICBs geographical area. Please access to Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information.<br/><br/>Estimated annual value: circa £204,000 per annum (excluding VAT)<br/><br/>For details on the Special Education Settings and schools capacity, please access the Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information.<br/><br/>Contract Length: 1 year (+ 1 optional year extension)<br/><br/>The contract is expected to start on 01 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
408 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/04/2026
End:
31/03/2028
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
E. Lot 3 - NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB (Hertfordshire only)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85160000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3 - NHS Hertfordshire And West Essex ICB (Hertfordshire only)<br/><br/>Lot 3 covers the Hertfordshire geographical area. Please access to Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information.<br/><br/>Estimated annual value: circa £222,528.36 per annum (excluding VAT)<br/><br/>For details on the Special Education Settings and schools capacity, please access the Documentation suite on the atamis e-tendering portal for further information.<br/><br/>Contract Length: 1 year (+ 1 optional year extension)<br/><br/>The contract is expected to start on 01 April 2026.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
445 056.72
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/04/2026
End:
31/03/2028
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
1 year contract with option for 1 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
16/01/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
16/01/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.<br/><br/>This is a one stage Competitive Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. <br/><br/>The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this procurement exercise.<br/>Further information and the ITT documentation can be found via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-tendering system at the following link:<br/><br/>https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/?SearchType=Projects<br/><br/>You can also register your interest via this page. You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract reference: C404118 - Sight Testing in Special Education Settings in the East of England<br/><br/>The Basic Selection Criteria are scored on a combination of pass/fail and For Information Only. The award criteria for the Key Criteria Questions are as follows and these will be scored on a combination of a 0-5 scoring mechanism and pass/fail:<br/><br/>Key Criteria: Section 1: Quality & Innovation - 37%<br/>Key Criteria: Section 2: Value - Pass/Fail<br/>Key Criteria: Section 3: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 42%<br/>Key Criteria: Section 4: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - 11%<br/>Key Criteria: Section 5: Social Value - 10%<br/><br/>The evaluation stages are as follows:<br/><br/>Stage 1: Preliminary compliance review <br/>Stage 2: Evaluation of the Basic Selection Criteria responses (Sections A – L). Offers that fail any of the required Pass/Fail questions will be disqualified and not considered further.<br/>Stage 3: Evaluation of responses to the Key Criteria Questions (Sections 1 – 5) <br/>Stage 3a: Moderation <br/>Stage 3b: Clarification (if required, at Commissioners discretion) <br/>Stage 3c: Moderation (if required) <br/>Stage 4: Provider Notification of Evaluation Outcome Providers will be notified of the outcome via the AGCSU e-tendering portal.<br/><br/>Neither the publication of this notice nor the employment of any particular terminology nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the Contracting Authority intends to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations.<br/><br/>Please see published Competitive Process procurement documentation for further details.<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for responses to the Competitive Process is 12:00pm (Mid-Day) on 16 January 2026.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Independent patient choice and procurement panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/12/2025